Nai Harn is one of the more isolated beaches, right at the bottom of the island
and nestled in a bay defined by headlands and islands. There is one big and
beautiful hotel here, Le Meridien Phuket Yacht Club, along with one new
mid-market, bungalow resort. Other than this there are no buildings to be seen
at Nai Harn, and the beach is backed by the green of casaurina trees and
coconut palms.

Even the road into Nai Harn beach winds in a confused manner through the rubber
plantations and small villages, giving the feeling of getting far, far away
from the busy beaches like Patong. The fact that quite a few foreign residents
who live on PhuketIsland have settled into
the green valley at the back of Nai Harn says much about the tranquillity of
the place. Most of these people have come looking for the perfect island life.

During the high season, from November to May, the bay of Nai Harn
is a favourite anchorage for yachts, due to the protection from winds that the
surrounding headlands afford, and the quiet calm of the water here. This also
makes delightful swimming conditions that are only matched, perhaps, by the bay of Kata.
Many residents of Phuket choose this beach for swimming due to such ideal
conditions, and to the fact that there is never a big crowd here.

Because this beach faces directly southwest, it takes the full force of
incoming monsoon waves during the wet months from May to October. This is both
good and bad (mostly good). The pounding of the waves builds up sand, cleans it
and reshapes the beach into one of the best on the island. Also, the wet season
waves are often great for surfing, with either board or body. But if you are a
weak swimmer and come at the monsoon time of year, there are plenty of green
and quiet places to take walks to. And hills to climb.

Right at the back of the beach, in the centre, is a Buddhist retreat. Monks
live here, but it is not yet a fully-fledged monastery. But its existence
protects this important part of the beach from further development, for in Thailand
monastery land cannot be sold or developed easily. A little behind this retreat
is a large reservoir which also holds off development and guarantees an open,
green future for Nai Harn.

There are a couple of things to note about the one big hotel here, the Phuket
Yacht Club hotel. This is a hotel, not a real yacht club, and it is one of the
most beautifully located hotels on the island. Set right into the side of the
hill on the Northwestern side of the beach, the balconies and rooms of this
look out over the magnificent vista of Nai Harn’s yacht-studded bay, its
islands and enclosing headlands. A cool drink on their terrace at sunset can
become one of Phuket's most spectacular, or romantic experiences.

Surprisingly, a public road runs directly under the Yacht Club hotel, right
through the carpark. Everyone can drive through the main gate, under the hotel
and follow the road for a couple of kilometres. There are two more bungalow
resorts along this road that are especially quiet – Ao Sane and Jungle Beach
Resort. These are two of those special, romantic places that make great escapes
for those wanting get away from the crowds, at budget prices. But go as a
couple, for here it is REALLY quiet.